Houston Product Community - June 10th

Come join other Houston area Product Managers, Product Owners and Other Product Professionals as we connect, learn and share experiences.

How the meeting works each month:

9:00am - 10:00am - Connect - This is a structured time of networking. You WILL meet new people. You WILL get to participate in engaging conversations. You WILL NOT have to stand around awkwardly hoping you get a chance to speak to someone.  Most of all, it WILL be fun! If you can’t make it until 9:55, that fine! You can still join us for the rest of the meeting. Dress is casual... Come as you are… Come when you can... Leave when you want to... You don't need to be there for the entire time... You will be welcomed!

10:00am - 11:00am - Learning - We will have a facilitated learning session during this time each month.

11:00am - 12:00pm - Sharing - A facilitated time of community sharing, usually (but not always) related to the session's topic. Sometimes we talk about whatever “burning questions” the group may have. Want to listen to how other Product Managers got started in their career? Have a question about Product Development? You’ll have a chance to get input from other Product Managers for just these types of things.

More specifically, the Houston Product Community was founded with these goals in mind: 

1.  Connect - Provide an environment (with both structured and unstructured social activities) where Product Professionals can network and foster authentic connections with other Product Professionals 
2. Learn - Provide learning opportunities and resource recommendations for both established and aspiring Product Professionals.
3. Share - Facilitate and encourage Product Product Professionals to share experiences and practical application of learnings with other Product Professionals.   

Join us on Saturday, May 13th, 2023 for our IN-PERSON SESSION.  The group meets the regularly the second Saturday of each month from 9:00am-12:00pm Central at the Improving-Houston office. (We meet the first Saturday of the month for November and December to better accommodate holidays.)

About the June 10th Session - Welcome JC Landivar

Let's welcome fellow Houston Product Community member JC Landivar to the podium for our June session. JC is a seasoned Product leader with over 20 years of experience, specializing in product management, project management, change management, and relationship management. With an MBA from University of St. Thomas and a track record of success in delivering high-profile projects and implementing strategic initiatives, JC is a passionate advocate for the outside-in approach to product ideation, emphasizing a deep understanding of the problems being solved. His expertise extends to analytics and untangling AI for practical use cases and product development. JC's diverse experience includes roles as a Principal Product Lead at True Tickets, where he contributed to driving the keystone release for Rules Based Ticket Sharing and served as a product practice advisor. He also serves as an executive and career coach at Mento, providing coaching and mentorship to individuals and teams to enhance their performance and achieve meaningful goals. Additionally, JC is the President of the Board of Directors at Camp Janus, a unique recreational and therapeutic opportunity for children who have recovered from burns. Most recently, he served as an Advisor and Head of Product at XTRA, a leading computer vision company in the health industry. Throughout his career, JC has demonstrated his ability to collaborate, lead, and communicate effectively at all levels, making him an invaluable member of our Product Manager Community of Practice.

"Having Those Difficult Conversations"

In the dynamic world of product management, effective communication and the ability to navigate difficult conversations are crucial skills. JC will be sharing insights on how to approach and handle these challenging dialogues using the COIN model.
The COIN model, which stands for Context, Observation, Impact, and Next steps, provides a structured framework for initiating and managing difficult conversations. JC's talk will delve into each element of the model, offering practical strategies and real-world examples to illustrate its application. JC will explore the impact component of the COIN model, emphasizing the need to consider how events or issues affect team members and the broader organization. By understanding the impact, product managers can foster empathy and create an environment conducive to problem-solving and growth.
This talk promises to equip product managers with practical techniques for approaching difficult conversations, enabling them to navigate challenging situations with confidence and professionalism. Join us as we learn from JC's expertise and enhance our communication skills as product leaders.

It is on Saturday for a Reason!

We get it! You’re busy! That’s why we’re holding the meetings on Saturday mornings. If you can’t come until 9:55am, that fine… if you need to leave after right after 11:00, that’s fine too. We understand Saturday may not be the best time for everyone, but that’s true of every day of the week, and traffic being light on Saturday mornings is a large factor in us deciding to meet on Saturdays. It is our hope that in exchange for some Saturday morning inconvenience, you find value in knowing you have a chance to be an active, contributing member of a community with others that practice the "Craft of Product".  So please come join us!

Is this Community of Practice a good fit for me?

The topics and discussion each month will be geared towards adding value to the “toolkits” of both aspiring and practicing Product Managers, Product Owners and Other Product Professionals. Scrum Masters and Developers who are seeking to better understand how they can add more value to their relationship with their Product Manager/Owner will likely benefit from any given meeting as well.

A few practical items:

• You must register on Eventbrite to attend (last minute is OK)
• Bring something to take notes with
• Meetings usually run between 80-100 in attendance.
• You may be required to present a valid form of identification (e.g. drivers license) to register at the front desk of the building when you arrive.
• Attire is casual (yes, jeans and a tee shirt are fine!)
• Coffee and Water will be provided.
• After the session, many members go out to lunch at Marini's Empanada House and continue talking about product. This is informal, just for fun and not a requirement to attend the session.
• Searching for a "Houston Product Management Meetup"... We are a "Community of Practice" of Houston-Based Product Managers, Product Owners and Other Product Professionals (Product Designers, Product Development, Product Analyst, etc.)
• Attendee list will be shared with our host (Improving) for communications about future Houston Technology community events.

Media Policy: By attending this event, you consent to be photographed, filmed and/or otherwise recorded. Your entry constitutes your consent to such photography, filming and/or recording and to any use, in any and all media throughout the universe in perpetuity, of your appearance, voice and name for any purpose whatsoever in connection with the event. You understand that all photography, filming and/or recording will be done in reliance on this consent given by you by attending events. If you do not agree to the foregoing, please let the event photographer(s) know that you do not wish to be photographed, filmed and/or recorded.

Please join us!

Host or Publisher Houston Product Community